"Um, Jim?" Heather stepped out of the cylindrical time machine, a blast of unusually hot, humid air greeting her. She cast her azure eyes over an unfamiliar landscape of lush jungle and rugged hills, tucking a lock of ginger hair behind her ear. She checked her phone. No signal. "I don't think this is Maryland 10 years ago..."
Jim followed her out, looking around himself before scratching his head in confusion. "But I specifically set the machine 10 years back. And it's not capable of moving us through space. Just time!"
Heather placed her hand on Jim’s shoulder, gazing upward into his eyes. “I’m sorry, Jim, but I think it did the opposite. This is definitely not Maryland. Not ten years ago, and not today.”
Jim’s expression soured as his eyes continued to survey the dense rainforest. “Shit!”
Turning toward his life-long friend, he gushed. “Everyone told us we were trying for the impossible, but I was so sure we could do it. I was so sure that this would be the trip that silenced all doubters…”
“It’s okay. We’ll just reverse the settings, hop back into the tube, and go back!” Heather said reassuringly.
“No. We won’t.” Jim said, his eyes darting back to the the machine as a small curl of smoke rose from its top. “The computer shorted out on the way. It’s completely inoperable.”
Heathers eyes widened. “But how are we going to…”
Her words trailed off as both professors slowly realized the full extent of their situation.
Collapsing to the ground, Jim put his head in his hands. “Oh, God, Heather. I’m so sorry. I wanted to win us recognition, but in my hurry to test our invention, I’ve put us in the middle of nowhere with no map, no supplies, and no… anything!”
“It’s okay, Jim,” Heather put on a brave face. “We’re both in our twenties, both young and reasonably fit. We just need to decide on a direction and start walking. I’ll bet we get within sight of civilization before the end of the day.”
Extending a hand, she struggled to assist her friend up, staggering forward and nearly losing her balance as he pulled on her hand, rising to his feet.
“Whoa! Careful!” said Jim reaching out to grab her arm, steadying her. He smirked. “I probably shouldn’t have let you do that. I should be the one helping you up.”
Heather frowned. She loved Jim to death. Except for his subtle streak of machismo. That, she could do without.
“Come on. Let’s go.” Taking his hand, Heather started forward in a northerly direction. An hour later, they were in the middle of a dark thicket of unfamiliar trees, their skin glistening with sweat. Heather removed her top, leaving herself naked from the waist up, save for her padded, B-cup bra.
She took a seat on a lichen-covered log, wiping her face with her wadded blouse. “It’s so hot! It has to be over a hundred degrees!”
Jim took a seat beside her, slumping down before tugging the hem of his shirt upward to wipe his own face. “I think you’re right. I wonder if we ended up in the Amazon or something…”
“Well, if we did, it should rain pretty often. Which is good. We’re going to need to hydrate often in these temperatures.”
Jim nodded his agreement, and they rested for a few more minutes before a loud roar in the distance shook the leaves in the surrounding trees, causing a flock of birds to take to the air. Small lizards and insects fluttered by as well, disturbed by something. And from the sound of it, that something was big.
*WHOOMP!*
*WHOOMP!!*
*WHOOMP!!!*
Heather turned to Jim, her lips drawn into a tight line. “What is that?”
“I-I don’t know!”
The loud noises grew louder, and the two young professors swung their legs over the log to cower behind it, nervously gazing into the dense jungle before them.
Then, they saw it. A massive, taloned foot descending not ten feet from the log where they hid.
*WHOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMP!!!!*
Both academics’ eyes rose skyward until they met those of a massive lizard, sniffing the air and looking from side to side. Their eyes flicked back downward, locking on one another’s even as they grew wide with horror.
“It’s a fucking dinosaur!” they both hissed simultaneously in an urgent whisper.
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